If you’re running a company, you probably constantly focus on increasing sales and making your business grow. In fact, not all business owners consider the environment. However, today’s consumers care more about protecting the environment and prefer companies that do their best to lessen their carbon footprint.
Reducing your business’s carbon footprint won’t only help you impress your customers, but also save you money in the long run. And you do this while preserving the environment and slowing down climate change. That’s why it’s a win-win situation since you’ll have more happy customers, fuller pockets, and a reputation that promotes a better environment.
To get started, below are some of the ways to reduce your company’s carbon footprint:
1. Go Paperless
Almost 50% of business waste is paper. To reduce your business’s carbon footprint, you have to lessen the amount of paper you use. With today’s technology, it’s never impossible to do so as you can use apps or online services to still keep your paper records and go paperless. For instance, instead of using the traditional fax, you can opt for companies that offer fax services. Such services can help you access the documents you need anywhere or anytime.
Aside from online fax services, you can take advantage of an online form builder to streamline and replace some paper processes. For example, with online form builders, you can create several job application forms, simple contact forms, donation forms, surveys, and so on. All of these form entries can be stored in an easy-to-access place without the need for printing.
Therefore, by putting your paper documents online, you won’t only minimize your carbon footprint, but you’ll also organize your documents properly, which can level up your team members’ productivity.
2. Use Renewable Energy
Burning fossil fuels to produce electricity is the main source of greenhouse gas emissions, the primary cause of climate change and global warming. The best solution for this is to use renewable energy like wind power and solar energy, which can significantly minimize your company’s carbon footprint.
Although the upfront cost of using renewable energy is quite hefty, you can benefit from various local, federal, and state incentives available to you.
3. Boost Your Lighting’s Efficiency
Changing your lighting to more energy-efficient ones like a light-emitting diode (LED) bulb can make a difference in reducing your company’s carbon footprint. Also, if there’s an adequate amount of natural light in your office, make sure to use it. The reason behind it is that natural light saves energy, and may help avoid health risks linked with artificial lighting, like elevated stress response.
Transparent film and solar shading can be used to help minimize excessive heat and glare. There’s also a wide variety of technology available, like motion sensors that will automatically switch off lights whenever not in use. You may also opt for dimmable lights to help cut electricity costs.
4. Optimize Your Cooling And Heating Systems
Ensuring your air conditioning and heating systems are appropriately configured can help you reduce your business carbon footprint. To do this, implement temperature controls, or install a building management system. Ensure your staff is trained on cooling and heating units to avoid drastic swings in temperature. Also, opt for a programmable thermostat.
For a more optimized heating and cooling system, be sure your boiler is regularly serviced for a more efficient operation. If your cooling and heating units are efficient, they won’t consume much energy, allowing your business to reduce its carbon footprint.
5. Move Toward Zero Waste
The way you do your business may produce greenhouse gas emissions from creating and transporting your products to the disposal and consumption of resources and materials. To avoid this, implement a zero-waste approach in your company.
You can start by evaluating the current waste generation, disposal, and management of your company. During the audit, you may determine where waste is produced, where it goes, and how often. After that, set your waste reduction, diversion, and prevention goals, and create policies to achieve them. When developing strategies to address climate change, focus on recycling, reusing, or reducing.
6. Educate Yourself, Customers, And Your Employees
If you’re trying to reduce your company’s carbon footprint, make sure your employees know about it. If possible, have friendly conversations on topics with your employees and even your customers. If everybody’s aware of your company policies regarding carbon emissions, it’s a huge step to reducing your business’s carbon footprint.
Conclusion
Implementing the above strategies to cut your business’s carbon footprint won’t only help your company’s bottom line, but can also curb climate change. So, as a business owner, do your best to follow them, and train your employees to do the same. Preserve the environment and enjoy savings over time.
